Off The Wall: NPR, It Would Have Been Nice to be Asked

Mike – Is it satisfying to see that every single thing in this article is PRECISELY what you’ve been saying for the last ten years, or is it annoying to see that mikeroweWORKS isn’t even mentioned?

Steve Reynolds

Hi Steve

The short answer, is yes. It’s always gratifying when large news organizations support my foundations agenda – especially with an article this good – but if I’m being honest, I would have liked to been asked for a quote. Not because I like to see my name in print, but because I could have told their readers we’re accepting applications for the next round of Work Ethic Scholarships. I could have said something like…

“Well thanks, NPR, that’s an excellent question. In my view, the widening skills gap and the increasing cost of college aren’t problems, in and of themselves; they’re symptoms – symptoms of our insistence on promoting one form of education at the expense of all the others. This lopsided, cookie-cutter approach to learning has led to a mountain of myths and misperceptions that discourage millions of people from exploring many viable opportunities that don’t require an expensive four-year degree. To close the skills gap, we need to affirmatively debunk the misinformation surrounding these opportunities and stop treating whole categories of jobs like vocational consolation prizes. Toward that end, mikeroweWORKS is accepting applications for another round of Work Ethic Scholarships, specifically designed for people who wish to learn a skill that’s actually in demand. And your readers are welcome to apply at mikeroweWORKS.org/scholarship.”